Steve

By the way - even when I have a Maremma litter where every one looks identical I would never consider spending money on neck bands from a whelping supply place

*nods* It's bloody appalling isn't it? Yep

Like Pedigree dogs exposed was a good swat on registered breeders? I think we need to face reality, there are plenty of bad breeders with a prefix. Bashing unregistered breeders does nothing to defend or imporve registered breeders that are often doing the same things the accuse the unregistered breeder of doing.

O.K. Troll maybe - but Im sorry these pups are already on the ground and there is nothing any of you can do to change that.Chasing her off now with a big stick only makes sure she never ever wants to be one of us and makes anyone else reading this think purebred breeders are a bunch of red necks.How many will pick up that most of the posts come from people who dont breed purebred dogs? If you think that being a registered breeder and having your yellow lab scored before you breed and racing it a round a show ring for a few months autiomatically puts in you a spot where you are giving a crap about the things that need to be done to get it right - BETTER LOOK AGAIN. Not everyone comes from a background which lets them know all about what needs to be done to get it right and many people who have gone on to be great breeders started out with mistakes. I get what your goal is but I cant for the life of me see how you hope to gain anything by flogging into someone after the horse has bolted.

Jed is also going to need more finances to get her through until she is able to work again to keep up with mortgage payments etc and the cat vet bill is almost $5,000 and still counting too so if anyone is thinking of donating something to one of the auctions now would be a good time to do that. There's a long way to go until she can go back to work.

Ive been chatting with Jed today - twice - She tires easily and loses her breath periodically but her brains are back and she is every bit the Jed I know. I thought Id like to share this with you all. A lovely lady by the name of MARLENE WHITHAM took the photo we had of Magnus and painted a portrait of him for Jed. This was delivered to Jed when Lesley and Marg went to visit along with the cards and parcels which we have been collecting from you guys for her. Its something beautiful and out of the ordinary so while its not devaluing anything else she has been sent because its so different Ill show it to you. I also told her about the community quilt we have coming for her and she was very much wanting to say thank you to you all.

If you learn yourself how to do a basic exam and you know what is normal you can by pass the vet visit as long as if you do pick something up which is out of whack you take em off for a check up. I don't vaccinate anything past its first year booster - which I give them myself.

No I don't.I have 8 kids and I never took them back once a year either if they weren't sick.

Me either - the heartless bastard.

Thank You Daisy - I keep telling myself if I'm going to keep doing this job I need to toughen up a bit but when I heard about how he was being treated in his current place my heart just wants to break for him and his owner.

Yes Please! Thank you! We're all sorted Dogeek is going to do the job for us. Thanks Guys. Julie WIll have it sent out straight from the lady who makes them, where should I send it? ETA Tis ok I Pm'd dog geek do you reckon you could get the lady who makes them to enter one in our craft fair? She has a business, www.petparaphernalia.com.au is a business allowed to enter stuff? Her stuff is brilliant, best ive found yet. As long as they are hand made.

Yes Please! Thank you! We're all sorted Dogeek is going to do the job for us. Thanks Guys. Julie WIll have it sent out straight from the lady who makes them, where should I send it? ETA Tis ok I Pm'd dog geek do you reckon you could get the lady who makes them to enter one in our craft fair?

Yes Please! Thank you! We're all sorted Dogeek is going to do the job for us. Thanks Guys. Julie

Yep he's good with other dogs

better give me a ring 0269276707

beautiful

It would be better if we can do it closer to his owner so she can visit him if possible while he is being looked after Julie

We need a temporary foster carer for a Whippet who is pretty miserable because he is currently in a mess while his owner is homeless and being helped by a welfare agency to find pet friendly accommodation. He is desexed, vaccinated, house trained and has been an inside dog as a constant companion - he' s cold and really missing his Mum and the client is very very distressed at him having stay where he is. Based on what Ive been told re the place he is staying I don't feel he should be there one minute longer than he has to be. No management issues except he doesn't like cats. If anyone is interested in helping that would be great - all expenses will be covered. 0269276707 or [email protected]

O.K. Go now

You can see inverted or double eye lashes with teh naked eye. Yes it could be something else including an over active tear duct which usually settles down. How old is the pup and what breed?

I try to treat puppy buyers the way I want to be treated myself.No questionnaires for me I just ask about their experience with the breed and their lifestyle. I get them chatting,tell them about the breed and examples of their characteristics and whats needed to own one and listen. If I get any feeling they are not for one of my pups they don't get one. The most inappropriate homes which may pass a questionnaire because they know what to say can get through. If I don't trust someone enough to take one of my dogs without home checks and the like they don't get one.

We have one which Panda Knits gave us approval to sell or distribute to rescue - Send me your address and Ill send one on to you. Julie

We've had several who made it to late teens and early twenties. Matilda was about 20 and that just absolutely broke my heart when she died.I knew it was coming and just prayed it wouldn't have to be my decision - she died in her sleep. I still bawl when I think of her. She lived with me longer than my kids did. Eddy was Mum's dog and he was also around 20.He came to live with me when Mum got too old to look after him.When my Mum died I went out to "tell eddy" and cried all over him. Next morning Eddy was dead and I had to take time before we left for the funeral to bury him. Henry the beagle is slowing down and I don't think he's going to make it much longer so again I'm praying that it happens without me having to make the call. I think Eddy's daughter Suzie though will maybe out live me - she is 20 on the first of August and still sees her major job in life is to keep the sparrows away. :rolleyes: She's slower and less alert but she's not bad. Part of what I've selected for - for around 35 years - is a strong immune system and longevity and there's a lot of science which has gone into the diet and vaccinations, chemicals etc.

I have a purebred beagle that's 18 and a purebred Pembroke corgi that's 20. My oldest Maremma is purebred and is 17 in September. I also have a cat in her early 20's.

How does a regular person know that they are aquiring a puppy that is sound in health and behaviour? You dont - no person regular or other wise can ever be 100 per cent certain no matter how much you put into finding a breeder or the breeder puts into making the dog. A dog is a living breathing thing with 100,000 plus genes and health and behaviour are impacted by unlimited variables. Quote. I think that most people who get a pedigree pup do so for reasons of guaranteed health, behaviour, etc, and because they believe they are doing the right thing. I don't, most people who come to buy puppies from me want to know that it's management characteristics and its temperament are predictible to ensure the dog will be best suited to their lifestyle and make it easier to live with.They want assurances that I have done what ever I can to eliminate potential health problems, through knowledge of the health issues which may have shown in the ancestors and my management decisions in how the parents and the pups are fed, housed, and treated. Any person or any breeder who guarantees health and behaviour past the first few weeks needs to re think the realities. Health is impacted by diet, environment,chemicals, bacteria, viruses, fungi, moulds,stress as well as genetic conditions which no one could have had a clue were hiding or needing to be tested for. Behaviour can be impacted by health, training or lack there of,boredom and a bunch of other things too numerous to list. I am mother to 8 children and up until about 6 months ago for all intents and purposes I was a good candidate for breeding. No known nasty genetic diseases in my lines so nothing to test for before I became a Mum. . Then 6 months ago one of my kids who is now in her late 30's was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease - subsequent tests have shown that so far 3 out of the 4 who have been tested are affected and its been proven via bloodtests that I am a carrier. 13 grandkids will now be tested to ascertain their status.Thats only because now we know the problem is in the pedigree we know what to test for but its not something humans are routinely screened for so anyone reading this 5% of you could have this genetic disease or be carrying it. My point is when you are dealing with mammals - shit happens and while a breeder can test for the known problems and make decisions to cut down on known genetic diseases in the breed and in the pedigree if you want a guarantee on health no one ,no matter what, can give you that guarantee. Quote So, how do I know, as your customer, that I am getting what I think I'm getting? Here in lies the problem. In order for a breeder to know you can get or will get what you think you are getting they have to know what that is. If I know you want a dog who will play fetch with you then I know to tell you that a Maremma will not do that with you. If you dont tell me I assume you know you cant play fetch with a Maremma or I cover that and let you know that even though you dont mention it because experience tells me sometimes people who want a Maremma dont know that. There is no such thing as a guarantee against genetic diseases as mixed breed dogs have potentially hundreds more genetic diseases than a purebred but a breeder can guarantee against some of the known genetic diseases in the breed especially where there is a DNA test available for a recessive disease - for example PRA. A breeder cannot guarantee against Hip Dysplasia or Patella problems because they are polygenic and no amount of knowledge or testing will give a guarantee it wont show up.A breeder cannot guarantee against a mutation showing up or a genetic disorder they couldnt test for or reasonably avoid. A breeder cant guarantee a dog wont bite the neighbours kids, or eat the family cat. If you expect that for 24 hours a day 7 days a week for the next couple of years they will be available for you and they dont normally have any contact with puppy buyers after the sale when they arent doing what you assumed they would do - there's a problem.